14 Mile 42-inch Water Main Project

The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), in collaboration with its member partner communities of Commerce Township, Walled Lake, Wixom and Novi, has developed an action plan to continue building resiliency in the regional system after a 42-inch water transmission main broke on 14 Mile Road, west of M5, at the end of September. This plan was developed based on extensive data garnered from the recent inspection of nearly four miles of this transmission main.

The action plan, which involves both water main replacement and renewal, will occur in three phases over the next seven months, spanning mid-January 2026 through late April, with road restoration expected to be completed by the end of June.  

GLWA estimates that it will be investing $12.8 million in this critical infrastructure resiliency work. Within the last year, GLWA also completed a more than $110 million redundancy loop project in the water transmission system which allowed restoration of water service much more quickly than in previous breaks. 

Project Updates 7/9/26

Our team has made great progress in the field on the 14 Mile 42-inch project. Updates include:

As road restoration work continues on 14 Mile Road between M-5 and Walled Lake, motorists should expect traffic impacts during the weeks of July 13 and July 20.

During this time, paving crews will remove the existing asphalt and install new pavement in both the eastbound and westbound lanes. Temporary traffic control will be in place to allow crews to safely complete the work.

Westbound traffic will remain open, but flagging operations will be used to direct vehicles through the work zone. While every effort will be made to minimize disruptions, motorists should expect delays.

To avoid congestion, drivers are encouraged to use 13 Mile Road or West Maple Road as alternate east-west routes whenever possible.

We appreciate your patience and apologize for the inconvenience this work may cause to residents, businesses, and travelers. Our team is working diligently to complete the project and restore full traffic in both directions as quickly and safely as possible.

• • All concrete curbs and approaches have been completed to allow for main-line paving of 14 Mile Rd to commence.
  • During the week of 7/6, pavers are on-site placing asphalt pavement on the eastbound lanes of 14 Mile Rd from Novi Rd to M-5 – the base course was laid on Monday 7/6 and the leveling course laid on Tuesday 7/7.
  • Following the new pavement on the south portion of the road, roadwork will proceed for the north side of the road. Westbound traffic will be diverted onto the new pavement as necessary to complete the areas of road reconstruction.
  • During the week of 7/13, pavers will be on-site performing milling and resurfacing of the north side of the road – the top 4-inches of existing pavement will be milled down and new asphalt will be laid on top.
  • During the week of 7/20, the pavers will complete the asphalt wearing (surface) course on 14 Mile Rd and restore the road edges with new stone shoulders.
  • During the week of 7/27, concrete collars will be installed around each of the manhole fames/covers within the new pavement, improving general ride-quality.
  • During the week of 8/3, following curing time on the concrete collars, we anticipate re-opening up the road to both eastbound and westbound traffic.